Hi Karen,
I'm going to repost a couple of replies to another user that is having data loss issues.
Perhaps you can find some investigative procedures within. OS details may vary but the general process will apply.
First:
Due to the holiday it will be Tuesday at the earliest before Amanda will be able to reply so I would like to post some information that may be of use to you in the meantime.
As Amanda stated you don't have to be Bill Gates to get through this as we will lead you one step at a time until we find the reason for your data usage.
You list a number of issues:
> Problems sending email <
> Delay on the phone <
> Slow speeds <
> Loss of data allowance <
Lets set the email problem aside for the moment as it seems you have an alternate method you can use while we attempt to sort out the other three main issues which may be related to one another.
Before we begin I would like to ensure that I have a clear picture of your network and its connected devices. Some things are clear from your posts and others are based on assumptions I have made so please correct any incorrect information:
I am assuming a Gen4 HT1100 modem ?
It would be helpful to know what your plan level is?
You have two computers, a desktop and a laptop, that both connect wirelessly to your Hughes service. Both computers are running Windows 10.
You connect through a Router. Can you please state the brand and perhaps model of Router ?
You also have a network printer that connects wirelessly.
We have introduce a couple of concepts here and while this may seem long and complicated just take it one step at a time. If something is presented that you don't understand, stop, make a post describing the hard to understand point and we will respond with a more understandable reply.
How data is packaged
How data is consumed
All Hughesnet plans have defined data limits. The plans are limited because the amount of data that can be processed by the satellite at any given moment is limited unlike that of ground based Internet services.
That data capacity is shared on several different levels .. you share the capacity of all users using the satellite, you share on a more local level with all of the users within your local geographic area known as a "beam", you share even closer to home with the number of devices that connect to your service through your router and you "share" your speed and data with a surprising number of things running on even a single computer or device.
The number of users connected at the "beam" level will effect your speed but will not consume any of your data.
So the question is: How is data "consumed"?
The answer is in three ways:
> Programs < (those that you can "see" running)
> Processes < (background processes/utilities you can not normally "see")
> Hardware < (in the form of "firmware" that is tied to the "guts" of things like Routers and other hardware.)
In order to see what is going on we have to know what "tools" we have to work with and learn one "skill" if need be.
The "skill" is knowing how to take a screenshot and post it here in the Community. At times a picture is worth at least a thousand words.
Here is a link describing how to take a screenshot in Windows:
https://www.take-a-screenshot.org/
On to "tools". Hughes provides three different "usage meters" and two ways to view "usage history".
(click on pictures for larger images)
#1: The Modems internal SCC (System Control Center)
Entering 192.168.0.1 into you browsers address bar will open the following display:
The above will display the overall "system condition" by looking at the color of the two icons at the top of the screen.
It also shows the status of your data allowance in all three categories:
1st: Anytime Bytes: (8am to 2am local)
2nd: Bonus Bytes: (2am to 8am local)
3rd: Token Bytes (if available, used when Anytime Bytes are depleted)
The above is kind of a general purpose "quick view" with a .1 GB resolution.
#2: The Download Status Meter:
The Download Status Meter is a utility that you can download and install from the Customer Support Center:
http://my.hughesnet.com/myaccount
Once downloaded and installed it will reside on your computers systray at the lower right of your screen.
It will show usage info for all three data categories as well as where you are on the expected "usage curve".
#3: The myAccount Meter:
This is the most detailed and accurate of the usage meters. It will track right down to the single MB.
This meter is found after logging in a the CSC under the usage tab.
http://my.hughesnet.com/myaccount
While the above meter is the most accurate you still have to consider that it is not "instantaneous" and there will usually be some data in motion that has yet to be reflected by the meter. This amount is usually very small (in the MB range) but is dependent upon your network activity.
Those are the three usage meters. Next we move on to the two "History" displays.
1st: Download Status Meter History display:
The DSM has "history" display that it a look back at the usage over the previous day, week, 2 week, month or two month period.
2nd: The myAccount "history" display found after login at the CSC under the usage/history tab:
There are different display resolutions available starting with a rolling 24 hour rolling display (delayed) to week, month and two month periods.
That concludes the official Hughes tools but for Windows users there is one more software tool that many of us find essential
Glasswire:
GlassWire is a third party software program that is available in tow versions, paid and free.
The free version is more than ample for our purposes.
The program tracks and displays the usage of all Programs and all Processes that are running on the computer that it is installed on.
Multiple computers require that GlassWire be installed on each computer and the results totaled.
GlassWire will give a very detailed look at the usage by the programs you KNOW are running as well as the many background processes that connect and use data without your knowledge.
I would strongly suggest that you install the free version of GlassWire on both of your computers:
Doing so will tell us just exactly what is running and how much data is being used on the two computers.
What it doesn't address however are the number of possible "connection paths" provided by your Router ... its setup and it security.
I would like you to install GlassWire on the two computers as well as learning if need be how to take and post screenshots. I would also like you post the answers to the questions I posted above including brand and model of Router so we can step through Router and wireless security settings.
And the second:
There are several areas we will want to look at:
One area that is a given in regards to your rate of data usage is both of your computers are running Win10.
Microsoft changed the computing landscape with Win10 in a number of ways.
You have very little to no control over which updates are downloaded and installed and just as importantly when that occurs.
You do have one advantage in that you are connected wirelessly. That will allow you to set that wireless connection to "metered". That will prevent .. or better said ... delay any Win10 updates.
The problem with that is the updates will have to be done at some point. It is not a good idea to run with an unpatched operating system. Having it set to metered at least allows you to be able after a fashion to choose the time and circumstances of when the updates are done.
When updates are delayed like that it is important to remember to check all the setting changes you have made .. such as setting the connected to "metered". Win Update has a nasty habit of resetting items to their default values after an update.
Another bad habit of Win10 is "Telemetry". Wind10 collects data from your computer and "shares" it with Microsoft. Beside the obvious potential privacy issues the data that is collected is charged against your monthly data allotment in the form of "upload" and also download in the form of target ads and so forth.
Fortunately there are methods to more or less control that behavior with free utilities like O&O ShutUp10.
https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10
We will be able to see exactly what program and processes are using what as soon as you get GlassWire installed on both computers.
When it comes to Win10 operating system changes I will defer to GabeU. It ran Win10 on two of my test-bed computers for a while but due to privacy concerns and the poor quality control of updates I chose to stop using Win10
The next area that we need to look at is your Router ... settings and security.
Having a Router multiplies the number of "connection paths" to your Hughes internet connection.
Those paths can be described as:
> Internal Router Settings <
> Wired < (which you aren't using)
> Wireless <
We will wish to check your routers "firmware" particularly if you have a Netgear. There has been a recent security vulnerability in certain Netgear models.
We will also wish to insure the status of certain key router functions:
> Routers login username and password changed from default values <
> WPS set to disabled <
> Remote Access set to disabled <
> All Guest Accounts set to disabled <
> All Router internal "Cloud" functions set to disabled <
> All Router "Services" set to disabled or carefully selected <
> Wireless security on all frequencies enabled to WPA-AES at a minimum <
We will want to see what features your Router offers such as a "Traffic Analyzer" function.
Every bit of data has to go through your Router be internal router services, wired or wireless traffic.
Some routers have the ability to track and report that data per device.
As an example here is my Asus RT-AC3100 traffic functions:
If your router does not offer this function you may wish to consider a router upgrade depending upon the value of that feature to you.
Another area we will wish to go is your wireless printer settings.
It is possible for your printer to use larger amounts of data if automatic software updates are enabled among other settings and permissions.
It is also possible under some circumstances that otherwise unauthorized devices can use your wireless printer as an access point.
elizabethvining,
Please consider the following:
When a device like a router is connected to your Hughes Modem it make a lease connection to the modem and the Modems LAN LED is illuminated and the devices MAC address is recorded in the modems internal logs. When that device is disconnected from the modem a 13.1.1 error condition is set along with the start time and duration of that condition.
It is a simple matter to remotely view the modem logs.
If you truly feel your system is using data when you have nothing connected then you first need to start a new post of your own and then follow the this procedure:
Doing so will prove/disprove your issue within hours.
As to determining what plan you have that can also be quickly determined in two ways.
1st: Open the Modems SCC at 192.168.0.1 and post a screenshot (sans SAN):
The above indicates that my plan limits are 50/50 GB
2nd: Log in to myAccount and under the billing tab click on Invoice Detail.
Read down the page until you see your plan name listed:
Your first order of business should be to start a new topic of your own followed by running the Modem Isolation Test as outlined in the first graphic.
You stated:
"and of course I still have a password because I am"
Yes, you have a username and password .... but ....
Did you also enable encryption on all wireless frequencies?
Did you disable all Guest Accounts?
Did you disable Remote Access?
Did you disable WPS?
Did you disable all internal Router cloud services?
Did you install the latest router firmware? (doubly important if it is a Netgear)
Karen,
Thanks for your input. Point well taken except ......
Hughes as an ISP makes data available to the Modems LAN port. They are not and can not be a personal "Computer Repair and IT Department".
In the past routers, switches and range extenders were only used by businesses and "techy" users.
Networking for the most part was not in everyday use by novice or even average users.
As more devices became more widely used Routers became a routine addition to households ... but "networking" knowledge did not keep pace.
Hughes, other than a single recent exception, simply doesn't "do networking". There are too many brands, models and versions spread over too many years of production for Hughes to offer support for these devices.
I can't count the number of times users have posted here in the Community "I have a password installed" and have no further understanding beyond that.
How do you suggest we introduce novice users to the more critical aspects of networking without referring them to some paid third-party?
While I certainly can understand frustration I could have phrased my response differently. I guess the "I want out" at the end rather than a "I don't know how" or "I don't understand". With that I would have asked for brand and model of the router being used and downloaded the manual and posted screenshots of the steps and settings.
The customer should never, EVER, be expected to understand the more critical aspects of networking. It's simply not necessary.